Feb. 20, 2025

 
SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP
 
Our Alabama National Guard Recruiting team continues to go above and beyond to recruit the future generations of our fighting force.
Alabama National Guard | Facebook, Instagram, X
 
 
ALABAMA NEWS
 
Alabama officials celebrate passage of resource center to support military veterans
Yellowhammer News | February 19, 2025
State officials and private sector partners joined forces at the Alabama State Capitol on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the passage of legislation creating the Alabama Veterans Resource Center.
Legislative leaders and lawmakers responsible for the idea say the center will offer a centralized hub to streamline access to essential resources and assist veterans and their families with transitioning seamlessly from military to civilian life.
 
 
ROMANIA NEWS
 
French Army Demonstrates Its Power and Responsiveness During Steadfast Dart 25 Exercise in Romania.
Global Defense News | February 20, 2025
As part of the multinational Steadfast Dart 25 exercise, which took place from February 10 to 21, 2025, the French Army confirmed its ability to quickly deploy a combined arms force, thus strengthening NATO’s defense posture on its eastern flank. The exercise, primarily held in Romania, involved over 10,000 military personnel from nine allied nations and focused on rapid response to crises, inter-force coordination, and enhancing interoperability among participating forces.
Steadfast Dart 25 was designed to test NATO's ability to deploy its forces quickly and effectively on its eastern flank, notably in Romania and Bulgaria. The main goal was to assess the procedures for deploying the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) and conducting multidomain activities to ensure coordinated defense. The French Army played a key role in this exercise, demonstrating its responsiveness to potential threats while supporting interoperability among allied forces.
 
 
DEFENSE WIDE NEWS
 
US Ally Shadows Chinese Warships Sailing Near Coast
Newsweek | February 19, 2025
Australia dispatched warships to track a Chinese flotilla off the country's east coast, according to a newspaper report. It comes as China expands its naval reach and presence in the Pacific Ocean. China has the largest navy in the world by hull count, according to the Pentagon, with over 370 ships and submarines in service. Last year, the Chinese military sent its ships to countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the South Pacific Ocean. Beijing and Washington are currently jostling for influence in the vast Pacific, with the Chinese navy engaging in a show of force in the southern part of the ocean.
 
Hegseth seeks to shift $50 billion in FY26 budget proposal
Defense One | February 19, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed Pentagon officials to find about $50 billion in the Biden administration’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal that can be redirected to new priorities, according to a late-Wednesday statement by his acting deputy. Funds should be moved from “so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs” and "excessive bureaucracy” to Trump-administration priorities, such as securing the border, building an “Iron Dome” for the United States, and ending DEI programs, acting deputy defense secretary Robert Salesses said in the statement.
 
Russia seems to have time on its side as the war in Ukraine reaches its third year
Associated Press | February 20, 2025
When Russian troops rolled into Ukraine three years ago, they brought their parade uniforms with them on the push to Kyiv. President Vladimir Putin expected a quick victory. What Putin dubbed the “special military operation” has turned into Europe’s largest conflict since World War II. Tens of thousands have been killed, entire cities have been reduced to smoldering ruins, millions of Ukrainians became refugees, and Russia was isolated from the West.
 
Pence denounces Trump’s claim Ukraine started war
The Hill | February 19, 2025
Former Vice President Mike Pence denounced his ex-boss, President Trump, over his recent claim that Ukraine started the war with Russia, a conflict that has been ongoing for three years. “Mr. President, Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth,” Pence said in a Wednesday post on the social platform X, accompanied by emojis of U.S. and Ukrainian flags.
 
A worried NATO holds large-scale combat drills as the U.S. shifts its Europe stance under Trump
Los Angeles Times | February 19, 2025
NATO members continued their largest combat exercises of 2025 on Wednesday, testing their ability to rapidly deploy large-scale forces on the 32-nation alliance’s eastern border as worries grow over its most powerful member, the United States. The drills in Romania, which borders Ukraine, come as a shaken Europe grapples with a new U.S. course under President Donald Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has demanded that allies dramatically ramp up military spending and said U.S. security priorities lie elsewhere — casting doubts on Washington’s longstanding security guarantees provided to Europe.
 
At Pentagon, Elon Musk Is Preparing to Access Department Systems
Military.com | February 19, 2025
Members of billionaire Elon Musk's so-called government efficiency team have arrived at the Pentagon amid unprecedented incursions at other agencies across the federal government, but on Wednesday had yet to access the military's vast systems and data. A defense official who was granted anonymity to speak candidly on the matter said that members of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, were conducting onboarding procedures like getting IT access set up this week.
 
Trump administration weighs closing office overseeing resettlement of Afghans to the U.S.
NBC News | February 19, 2025
The Trump administration has told the office overseeing the resettlement of Afghans to the United States to draw up plans to shut down by April. The move could strand more than 250,000 Afghans and their families who face persecution from the Taliban for their ties to America, according to a refugee advocate and two sources with knowledge of the matter. “This is a national disgrace, a betrayal of our Afghan allies, of the veterans who fought for them and of America’s word,” Shawn Van Diver, president of #AfghanEvac, a coalition of U.S. veterans and advocacy groups, told NBC News.
 
Defense officials fear impending Pentagon firings could break law and hurt military readiness
CNN | February 19, 2025
Some defense officials responsible for drafting lists of civilian Pentagon employees to be terminated as soon as this week are raising concerns with their superiors that the summary firings could break the law and potentially harm US military readiness, a senior defense official told CNN. Title 10 section 129a of the US code governing civilian personnel management in the armed forces says that the secretary of defense “may not reduce the civilian workforce programmed full-time equivalent levels unless the Secretary conducts an appropriate analysis” of how those firings could impact the US military’s lethality and readiness.
 
US declares Mexican cartels terrorist organizations, Musk floats drone strikes
The Hill | February 19, 2025
The State Department has declared several Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, with Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk floating the idea of drone strikes against the groups. In a release Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is designating the cartels Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Carteles Unidos, Cartel del Noreste, Cartel del Golfo, and La Nueva Familia Michoacana, as terrorist groups, a move that President Trump had pledged on the campaign trail and laid the groundwork for with an executive action his first day in office.
 
US Coast Guard paychecks delayed by cyberattack
TechRadar | February 19, 2025
A data breach has affected the personnel and payroll systems of the US Coast Guard, and has impacted member pay, and forced the agency to to take systems offline to prevent further intrusion until “at least February 19th, 2025”. The Coast Guard told Cybernews researchers it is, “investigating the breach of data within its personnel and payroll system, which has impacted the timeliness of bi-weekly pay to 1,135 members.” The sensitive financial information of service members was reportedly exposed in the hack, meaning they could be at risk of fraud or identity theft - so it could be dangerous for anyone exposed, here’s what we know so far.
 
 
NATIONAL GUARD NEWS
 
New York governor deploys National Guard amid illegal corrections officer strike at state prisons
AP (Hosted) | February 19, 2025
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has deployed National Guard troops to secure state-run prisons amid a wildcat strike by corrections workers. Picketing and striking by corrections officers took place at around 30 state prisons as of Wednesday morning, union officials said. Hochul says National Guard troops are being deployed Wednesday, but she did not immediately specify where. “They’ve already been deployed and are ready to stabilize the situation,” Hochul said of the National Guard soldiers, in a video address released Wednesday. “I am directing everyone involved in these unlawful strikes to stop these actions immediately. Legal action has already commenced to ensure compliance.”
 
Deploying National Guard to NYS prisons could make “bad situation even worse”
WBFO 89.7 | February 19, 2025
Robert Ortt, himself a National Guard veteran, is among those questioning Hochul’s action to deploy members of the National Guard to aid those corrections officers still on duty. The move, Ortt says, could be counter-protective and have an adverse effect. At the very least, it will strain already frayed relations between the corrections officers and the Hochul administration. “I do not believe for one second that sending Army National Guard soldiers, many of whom I have to suppose have not been trained at all to work inside a prison, let alone inside a civilian prison, not a military prison, this has the real possibility of making a bad situation even worse,” he said.
 
Ohio Task Force 1 assists with rescues and storm recovery in Kentucky
WKYC-TV | February 19, 2025
Neighborhoods partially submerged, families stranded, and hundreds of roads closed — that was the scene in Kentucky when Ohio Task Force 1 got the call to respond this week. The team of first responders mostly from Ohio has been on the frontlines of the response to devastating storms and floods in Kentucky since Sunday. At least 14 people have been killed in the floods and thousands have been rescued. Snow and temperatures in the teens have replaced rain and floods and added another challenge to the state’s ongoing recovery efforts. The Ohio team has been working with the Kentucky National Guard and other agencies.
 
North Carolina National Guard called to assist in winter storm
WITN-TV | February 19, 2025
As a third winter storm moves in and a state of emergency has been declared, multiple agencies around the state are ready to help, including here in the East. According to the WITN’s First Alert Weather Team, potential impacts from this winter storm range from power outages to dangerous road conditions making travel in some areas nearly impossible. The North Carolina National Guard has been preparing to help in any way needed. According to Sergeant First Class Steven Parsons, soldiers started preparations Tuesday ahead of today’s storm and already have soldiers on the ground.
 
How Virginia emergency teams tackle snowstorm challenges
WTVR-TV | February 19, 2025
On a snowy day at Robious Landing Park, Pete Russell was out walking with his foster dog, Boy George, along the James River. "I decided to come by here to let George walk a little bit before I went home," Russell said. "The main highways are pretty good. You just have to be careful when switching lanes." Meanwhile, in the basement of the State Police Headquarters, Jason Elmore from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management talked about the importance of working together during bad weather. "It's important to have all of our team members here together. That way, we can just walk across the room and get things done quickly," Elmore said.
 
Utah mom accused of killing National Guard husband enters plea as police search for body
Fox News | February 19, 2025
A Utah mom accused of killing her husband in September 2024 pleaded not guilty to nine counts earlier this month as officials continue to search for the Utah National Guardsman’s body, according to local news. Jennifer Gledhill pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, five counts of obstruction of justice, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, abuse of a human body and tampering with a witness, filed in Salt Lake County, in connection with Matthew Johnson’s disappearance and presumed death.
 
Mass. National Guard pulls out of Frederick Douglass event due to Trump orders
WGBH-FM | February 19, 2025
The Massachusetts National Guard has cancelled plans to participate in a celebration of Frederick Douglass’ birthday and Civil Rights Heroes Day scheduled for Feb.22 in Easton, Maryland. The 54th MA Volunteer Infantry Regiment — the National Guard’s group of civilian re-enactors who commemorate one of the first Black regiments to serve in the Civil War — have marched in the Maryland parade in prior years. The regiment was scheduled to lead the parade at this year’s event. Gov. Maura Healey says the withdrawal can be ascribed to President Trump’s elimination of funds for events recognizing Black History Month.
 
Wyoming National Guard mourns loss of Specialist who died in Green River tunnel crash
County 10™ | February 19, 2025
Yesterday, February 18, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) and the Sweetwater County Coroner’s Office released the identities of the three individuals confirmed to have lost their lives in the February 14 crash in the Green River Tunnel on Interstate 80. Among those named was 22-year-old Quentin Romero from Rawlins, who was a 115th Field Artillery Rear Detachment Specialist in the Wyoming National Guard (WNG), according to a post shared on the WNG Facebook page. “I am saddened to inform you of the tragic passing of Specialist Quentin Romero of the 115th Field Artillery Rear Detachment,” the post shared on behalf of Major General Gregory Porter, the Adjutant General of the WNG, states.
 
 
ARMY NEWS
 
Can Troops Be Paid More Efficiently? New Report Explores How
Air & Space Forces Magazine | February 19, 2025
About a month after the Defense Department issued a sweeping analysis of military compensation, a new report offers recommendations for making base pay, allowances, special pays, and performance incentives more efficient. Written by a researcher from the federally funded RAND Corporation, the report focused on how the Army can meet its personnel readiness goals at lower costs, but many of its recommendations apply to the entire military, since most elements of compensation are set by Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
 
US Army tank crew notches first win at international competition
Army Times | February 19, 2025
A U.S. Army tank crew notched a historic win during an armored vehicle contest where teams met from around the world to battle head to head, the Defense Department said. Four men from the 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade, 1st Armored Division, led the U.S. to victory at the U.S. Army Europe and Africa International Tank Challenge in Grafenwoehr, Germany, this month, according to a Tuesday release.
 
Pentagon 14% of the way to zero trust compliance, faces challenges with ICAM, data tagging
Breaking Defense | February 19, 2025
The Department of Defense is 14 percent of the way on its goal of having all enterprise networks zero trust compliant by the end of fiscal year 2027, a key official said Wednesday. “Fourteen percent is a good start, but far from being done,” Col. Gary Kipe, chief of staff of the DoD’s zero trust portfolio management office, said during a panel at a CyberScoop event. He added that the 14 percent constitutes areas specifically where “we could stop adversarial lateral movement within our network.”
 
Army Stinger missile replacement competition heads into flight tests
Defense News | February 19, 2025
RTX and Lockheed Martin are heading into flight tests this year in a head-to-head competition to develop a replacement for the U.S. Army’s Stinger missile. The Army is pursuing a Stinger missile replacement for short-range air defense that can go faster, survive jamming and more easily hit tougher targets like drones. The service awarded RTX and Lockheed Martin with contracts to competitively develop the Stinger replacement in September 2023. The RTX-manufactured Stinger missiles are currently used in the Army’s interim Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or MSHORAD, system and also in a man-portable configuration to provide air defense.
 
 
AIR FORCE NEWS
 
New Report Critiques Space Force’s Theory for Countering China
Air & Space Forces Magazine | February 19, 2025
A workshop designed to test the Space Force’s theory of “Competitive Endurance” against the likes of Russia and China validated the concept’s core tenets but exposed “unintended consequences” that could harm the service in the long run, said experts from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. In a new paper by senior resident fellows and retired Cols. Charles Galbreath and Jennifer Reeves, released Feb. 18, the authors acknowledge the limitations of budgets but still question some of the Space Force’s choices in the face of growing threats in orbit and continued skepticism about military space within the Pentagon and the public at large.
 
Space Force lacks ‘warfighting ethos,’ experts say
Defense News | February 19, 2025
U.S. policies around weapons in space, its over-classification of space capabilities and a lacking “warfighting ethos” are undermining public perception of the Space Force and “subverting” its legitimacy as a separate military service, according to a new study from the Mitchell Institute. The study, released Wednesday, is the byproduct of a two-day workshop the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence held in October. The event convened 55 space experts from across the military, industry and academia to consider how the Space Force’s current operational concepts might hold up amid a range of potential crises over the next 25 years — from a deployed Russian nuclear antisatellite weapon to an attempt by China to hijack a futuristic “luxury space hotel.”


News Compilation by Staff Sgt. Adena Belle McCluskey